A 

Theatre Arts presentation on lighting and sound areas

in saftey in the Theatre

•Name: Shynia Andrews

•Subject: Theatre Arts
•Class: 5J
•Teacher: Miss Cecilia Griffith
Lighting
Performing arts lighting -is used to see what’s occurring on the stage, to
focus the audience’s attention on a specific person or area, or to set the
tone or mood of a particular scene.

Working with performing arts lighting can be a dangerous activity.

Here are some lighting hazards you should be aware of:
• Fire Risks, Electrical Risks, Risk of Falling From Heights, Overhead
Lighting , Battens – Pipes with Lighting Instruments
Attached, Dimmer Rooms and Boards and Cable Management.
• Overhead lighting -Performing arts lighting rigs are very heavy and
can cause severe injuries if they fall. Employees and students must be
trained on how to hang and properly secure lights. 
Sound areas
Like lighting operations, there are significant exposures while installing,
maintaining, and storing sound.
You may be exposed to hazards such as fall from heights while installing
speakers, injury sustained from falling equipment, or back injuries from
lifting heavy equipment. An added hazard may result from the decibel
level generated by the speakers and amplifiers.
Also never hang speakers in the dark
Make sure that the cable is unpluged.
Many students have never worked with electricity directly before working on stage.

Repairs: Students should not attempt electrical repairs without proper training. Equipment that malfunctions or causes shocks should be removed from
service and repaired by a qualified individual.

Extension cords: Extension cords are only designed for temporary use. Use of thin, light duty extension cords can increase the risk of fire and shock. Make
sure extension cords have adequate current capacity for the equipment being used. Do not pull an electrical cord out of a socket by the cord. This breaks
interior wires and can cause a short and, possibly, a fire. Inspect for frayed or split cords or plugs before use.

Electrical Cords: Electrical cords can also be a tripping hazard. It is a good practice to route cords away from traffic areas to prevent trips and falls. Avoid
stretching or pinching cords between objects. This can break interior wires, causing overheating which can result in a fire. Do not cover electrical cords with
rugs; this can also result in a fire.

Circuit Protection Devices: Circuit protection devices are designed to automatically limit or shut off the flow of electricity in the event of a ground-fault,
overload, or short circuit in the wiring system. A ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, should be used in high-risk areas such as wet locations or outdoor
sites. Portable GFCIs are available from any hardware store or safety supply catalog.

Training: Training is essential in working with lighting circuitry, dimmers and instruments. Students should be trained before being authorized to work the
control areas. Keep food and beverages out of the light control areas to prevent possible shocks and damage to the circuitry.

Overhead Lighting

Lighting dimmers have limits to the lamp loads they can handle. Overloading dimmers can cause a fire hazard. There are standard size 1.2 kilowatt (1200W
maximum) and 2.4 kilowatt (2400W maximum) dimmers used in the student-run theater spaces. NOTE: The wattage of the bulbs MAY NOT exceed that of
the dimmers they are plugged into.

Ladders & Catwalks

Lighting work sometimes requires working from ladders or elevated surfaces such as catwalks. For information on working from ladders, see Ladder Safety.